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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Cary Smith (b. December 8, 1950) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 27. Smith was first elected to the chamber in 2014. Smith is running for re-election in the primary on June 5, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Smith served in the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 55 from 2009 to 2015. From 2011 to 2014, Smith served as a Majority Whip.

Smith earned his B.S. in psychology from the University of Utah in 1972. His professional experience includes working in management at Sears Roebuck and Company.

Education

  • BS, Psychology, Political Science, History, University of Utah, 1972, Grade Point Average of 3.3

Professional Experience

  • BS, Psychology, Political Science, History, University of Utah, 1972, Grade Point Average of 3.3
  • Management, Sears Roebuck and Company, 1973-2005

Political Experience

  • BS, Psychology, Political Science, History, University of Utah, 1972, Grade Point Average of 3.3
  • Management, Sears Roebuck and Company, 1973-2005
  • Senator, Montana State Senate, District 27, 2015-present
  • Candidate, Montana State Senate, District 27, 2018
  • Majority Whip, Montana State Senate, 2015-2018
  • Majority Whip, Montana State House of Representatives, 2011-2015
  • Representative, Montana State House of Representatives, District 55, 2009-2015

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Business and Labor Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Ethics Committee, Montana State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Human Services Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Legislative Administration Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Montana State Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee

Former Chair, Rules Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning, Montana State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Committee on Committees

Vice Chair, Finance and Claims Committee

Member, Fish and Game Committee

Member, Joint Interim Committee on Environmental Quality Control

Member, Joint Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning

Vice Chair, Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee

Member, Rules Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BS, Psychology, Political Science, History, University of Utah, 1972, Grade Point Average of 3.3
  • Management, Sears Roebuck and Company, 1973-2005
  • Senator, Montana State Senate, District 27, 2015-present
  • Candidate, Montana State Senate, District 27, 2018
  • Majority Whip, Montana State Senate, 2015-2018
  • Majority Whip, Montana State House of Representatives, 2011-2015
  • Representative, Montana State House of Representatives, District 55, 2009-2015
  • Member/Board of Directors, Montana Shooting Sports Association, 2009-present
  • Member, National Rifle Association, present
  • Member/Board of Directors, American Red Cross
  • Scout Master/Varsity Coach/Explorer Leader, Boy Scouts of America, 1986-2008
  • Member/Board of Directors, Billings Area Chamber of Commerce, 1993-2005
  • Member/Board of Directors, Montana Retail Association, 1993-2005
Policy Positions

Montana State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Montana's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- Yes

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Eliminating block grants to public school districts?
- No

6. Decreasing funding to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- Revenues are sufficient to support existing programs. Montana has a balanced budget.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- No

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- No

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that our current campaign contribution limits infringe upon our Freedom of Speech.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Montana?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Montana?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- I do not know what clean drinking water initiatives question c is referring to. With a question that is this vague my answer will be no.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- There is already enough gun regulation. What we need is enforcement of our current laws.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Montana's health care programs?
- No

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Do you support increasing state funding for tracking and reporting opioid usage and overdoses?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- a & c Simply spending more to combat opioid abuse will not solve a complicate issue where an over medicated population is trying to solve a variety of problems by taking a pill instead of focusing on the root problems.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by Montana state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Should individuals be required to use a bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- c There are already laws that make it illegal to pay men more than women simply because they are men.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- One of my top priorities is passing legislation to implement free market solutions to reduce the high cost of health care.Another priority is to reduce unnecessary regulation at all levels of government.